Jan 25, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has asked the government if it has noticed any trends in religious extremism in the country.

JVP parliamentary group leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake has asked the government in parliament if the government had identified any religious extremist trends in the country.

Stressing that religious and racial extremism should be defeated, Dissanayake has questioned what measures the government has taken to defeat such religious extremism.

Responding to Dissanayake's question, Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Minister M.K.D.S. Gunawardena has said the government will appoint an inter-religious parliamentary select committee to investigate into the matter.

He has observed that the government has so far not received any reports of extremist activities.

However, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and the leader of the house Nimal Siripala de Silva to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to look into the insults leveled at the country's Muslims.